As graduate students, we are assigned the role of "liaison" at two or three schools who will be visiting IslandWood. During our non-teaching weeks (every other week) we visit our liaison schools to do observations, lessons, activities, orientations, or simply to tag along on a field trip as an additional chaperone. When our liaison school comes to IslandWood, we substitute our teaching week for a week of support and professional development closely interacting with the students, chaperones, and teachers. This past week North Beach Elementary School, of which I am a liaison, visited IslandWood and I had the privilege of floating from group to group and really learning a lot from colleagues. One of my highlights came from observing an lesson called Soil To Snack.
Soil To Snack is a fairly self-explanatory lesson. The students are introduced to IslandWood's garden and proceed to collecting various vegetables that will later be used to create a snack. Once the group has gathered enough, they head to the dining hall where our incredibly talented chef, Chris Agnew, guides them through the process of creating a delicious dish. This weeks dish was Potato Gnocchi with a Stinging Nettle sauce.
Chris showing everyone how to prepare the Nettles.
Students rolling, rolling, rolling the Gnocchi dough.
Once it's rolled, students carefully cut their strand into bite-sized pieces.
The finished product. Potato Gnocchi with a Stinging Nettle sauce, topped with goat cheese and sprouts. Yum!
"Wow something that was so commonly known to hurt me, I never knew it could taste so good!"
- North Beach Elementary Student
For more information about IslandWood's garden or if you'd like some new exciting recipes, please visit our Garden Blog!
Last week, I was fortunate enough to be with Team Estuary during their Artist In Residence experience with Joe Reilly and Allison Radell. Of everything I've done at IslandWood with students, it took top prize as my favorite shared experience thus far. Without further ado, I give you "We Are Estuary."
The seed. A collection of ideas surrounding individual connections to IslandWood.
The song. After much deliberation, Team Estuary settled upon their lyrics.
We Are Estuary
Team Estuary With Joe Reilly and Allison Radell
February 27th, 2013
Walking among the ancient trees, the elder cedar trees On the suspension bridge, the food is very tasty The canopy tower, the tree house, the floating classroom The quiet, the stillness of walking around without cars From the canopy tower you can see, very far The ravine, can be seen, and leads to the Hah-Bah The wind through the trees
The chirping of the birds When you’re walking through the tall grass Footsteps slow and fast We are here, we are estuary We are here, we are estuary Working together as a team, to achieve our goal I ran into the wall on a night hike, in a blindfold It was just a bump, it was challenging but fun Our favorite part is coming back after our journey’s done The wind through the trees The chirping of the birds When you’re walking through the tall grass Footsteps slow and fast We are here, we are estuary We are here, we are estuary Walking among the ancient trees, the elder cedar trees On the suspension bridge, the food is very tasty
Should you ever have the opportunity to participate in a work shop with Joe and Allison, I cannot recommend it enough.
We are lucky enough to have another amazing Artist in Residence with us this week. Joe Reilly singer, songwriter and educator extraordinair is here to lead the School Overnight Program students in songs at evening campfire and is working with four field groups to create songs of their own! Last night he also led a professional development session with the grads and staff and helped us work through the process of creating our own group song: "Every Heart Lives in a Watershed" (working title). Now, I'm admittedly pretty biased but with lines like "It's not a house with water in it" and "Connecting water sources for the raccoons, humans, bears and horses" I think we might have a hit on our hands. Check it out in the video below. I've posted the lyrics in case you want to sing along. Enjoy! Chloe
Every Heart Lives in a Watershed By IslandWood Grads and Staff and Joe Reilly
Verse 1 (D & G)
It's not a house with water in it.
The highest point is where we begin it.
An area of land where the water drains.
A collection of streams from the mountains to the plains/planes.
